He might be under pressure to regain his place in the Australian team for the upcoming Ashes series, but pacer Brett Lee insists he is at the peak of his fitness and is feeling stronger than ever.

He might be under pressure to regain his place in the Australian team for the upcoming Ashes series, but pacer Brett Lee insists he is at the peak of his fitness and is feeling stronger than ever.

Lee was criticised by former cricketer Geoff Lawson, who termed him country's last-choice bowler, who will prove a liability in Australia's bid to avenge its 2005 Ashes loss in England.

"My preparation before this tour has been outstanding. It's probably the best preparation I've ever had," Lee was quoted as saying in the Herald Sun.

"That all came through getting injured and having 17 weeks to get my strength back up at home. I'm at a stage in my life, at 32, I feel I'm definitely the strongest I've everbeen and I feel fit," he added.

A game against Sussex, and the July 1-4 trial against England Lions would decide his place in the Ashes side and Lee said he has kept a plan B for himself if he doesn't getselected in the playing XI.

"So I give myself every opportunity and if it happens, it happens. If it doesn't I'll work on plan B.

"You've always got a second plan in place but I'm not planning to work on plan B at the moment. I've done the hard work and if I get the opportunity then the hard work will pay off."